Why 'Getting Divorced Sucks' But 'Being Divorced Doesn't'

If there's ever a time you need a little distraction in your life, it's during the divorce process. That's why we launched our Divorce Care Package series. With each post, we'll show you what things -- books, movies, recipes -- helped others relieve stress in the midst of divorce, in the hopes that a few of their picks will serve you well, too. Want to share what got you through your divorce? Email us at divorce@huffingtonpost.com or tweet @HuffPost Divorce

What got single mom and HuffPost Divorce blogger Jennifer Gardella through her divorce? For starters, a tight-knit group of friends who refused to leave her side and a sweet comment from her youngest daughter that convinced her to reclaim her maiden name.

Below, Gardella tells us more about that and shares a few more of her divorce lifesavers.

“The first quote I lived by was 'Getting divorced sucks, being divorced doesn't.' Truer words about divorce have never been spoken. The pain and craziness of getting divorced is only equaled by the feelings of exuberance and independence once the final papers are signed.
The second quote was, 'Everything will be OK in the end. If it isn’t OK, its not the end.' This phrase cemented my belief that my children, my emotional state, and future life were all going to be OK regardless of the present struggle. I knew an amazing life was waiting for me and I never allowed myself to think otherwise. Staying positive through the difficult times was often hard and I can remember almost falling into a pattern of 'thinking things would never get better. Reminding myself that everyone would be OK kept me going.”